Along comes a voice, a style, an ease in being in song, that is Gretchen Parlato. I've been waiting for my opportunity to see the 2004 winner of the Thelonious Monk Vocal Competition. Might have been expecting vocal gyrations like Ella but got something so unique unto herself that I was both mesmerized and fixed on learning her sound. Gretchen Parlato is officially one of my favorite vocalists. Her choice of song and delivery, her sublty fierce rhythmic sensibility, her petite frame of power and serenity, she is divine!

She's performing throughout NYC this summer. Make sure you catch her at one of her gigs.

Also check out her live rendition of Wayne Shorter's ESP. It will never leave your head.
And sexy?....Man! She oozes it through her articulation and vocal touch. You gotta check her out if you love jazz and if you don't. Her website lets you dabble in her album, self-produced like mine.

I've been in touch with her. Want to expand my jazz chops into a new direction and gets some rigor in my practice too and I think she's got something I don't have and I am ready to learn.

She did a new tune by Robert Glasper (off the hook extraordinary pianist and composer) for which she wrote some great lyrics. Her 6pm set was just delicious!
http://gretchenparlato.com

Taste a listen!